EU leaders to create Ukraine solidarity fund to finance reconstruction

The EU will create a Ukraine Solidarity Trust Fund and invite other states to participate and provide support to the Ukrainian government for its immediate needs and for the reconstruction of a democratic Ukraine.

In a meeting of the European Council together with the President of the United States, the EU said it will hold an international conference to raise funding under the Ukraine Solidarity Trust Fund.

The EU said it will also provide continuous and uninterrupted electricity and gas flows to Ukraine, after a recent synchronisation of Ukrainian and Moldovan electricity grids with the EU’s grids. “It shows that our futures are now interconnected. The safety of Ukrainian nuclear facilities must be ensured, including with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Council president Charles Michel said.

The Russian military aggression against Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee their homes, with many finding shelter and safety in Europe, facilitated by the temporary protection mechanism.

The crisis is presenting significant challenge for the infrastructure and public services of hosting countries, notably at the borders with Ukraine, who are welcoming refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. The European Commission is now sourcing funding for refugees and their hosts.

The EU has so far adopted significant sanctions that are having a massive impact on Russia and Belarus, with states pledging further robust sanctions to effectively thwart Russian abilities to continue the aggression. “The European Council calls on all countries to align with those sanctions. Any attempts to circumvent sanctions or to aid Russia by other means must be stopped,” Michel said.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and is causing massive loss of life and injury to civilians,” Michel said, accusing the country of directing attacks against the civilian population and is targeting civilian objects, including hospitals, medical facilities, schools and shelters.

“These war crimes must stop immediately. Those responsible, and their accomplices, will be held to account in accordance with international law. The siege of Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities, and the denial of humanitarian access by Russian military forces are unacceptable. Russian forces must immediately provide for safe pathways to other parts of Ukraine, as well as humanitarian aid to be delivered to Mariupol and other besieged cities.”

The European Council also urged Russia to guarantee safe passage to civilians entrapped in all other war zones to a destination of their choice, to immediately release all hostages, to provide uninterrupted humanitarian access and to establish humanitarian corridors.

“The European Council demands that Russia immediately stop its military aggression in the territory of Ukraine, immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders.”